Igniter cartridge



Oct. 20, 1970 A. GUENIN IGNITER CARTRIDQE 4Shets-Sheet1 Filed July 9,1968 Oct. 20, 1970 ALGUENIN 3,535,065

IGNITER CARTRIDGE I Filed July 9, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 20, 19701.. A. GUENIN I GNITER CARTRIDGE 4 Sheets-Shed 5 Filed July 9, 1968 OCL20, 1970 GUEMN 3 ,535,065

. IGNI TER CARTRIDGE Filed July 9, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United StatesPatent US. Cl. 431267 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ignitercartridge using a pyrophoric or hypergolic material stored in a holderand released from the cartridge through a discharge orifice opened andclosed by the movement of a spring driven inertial member.

The invention relates to an igniter cartridge using a pyrophoric orhypergolic material and suitable for a smokers lighter and other deviceshaving a burner that must be ignited.

It has been suggested that pyrophoric and hypergolic materials be usedin igniters, notably to ignite the burner of devices such as smokerslighters. It is apparent that igniters of this kind are also suitable toa great variety of implements and devices having a burner that must beignited, such as stoves, heaters or burner illumination lamps.

These igniters can use either a pyrophoric material, which ignitesspontaneously on exposure to air, or a hypergolic material, whichignites spontaneously on exposure to fuel, hereinafter, and in theclaims, the term pyrophoric material is intended to embrace alsohypergolic material. By way of example, a material suitable for theseigniters is aluminium borohydride.

Suitable pyrophoric materials are usually very expensive, and it isnecessary to provide a device that releases only minute quantity of thematerial into the air each time that the burner is to be ignited.

Advantageously, the pyrophoric material is contained in a replaceablecartridge, so that the device can be quickly put into working ordermerely by substituting a fresh cartridge for the empty one.

It has previously been proposed to manufacture flexible-wall cartridgeshaving a discharge orifice for the material and a closure member forclosing the: orifice. However, when attempting to construct smallcartridges of this type, which can be easily mounted in a device ofsmall dimensions such as a smokers lighter, it is very difficult tomanufacture reliably thin-walled cartridges of. which the wall thicknessis held within sufiiciently close tolerances.

Various attempts have shown that it is difiicult to provide a mechanismhoused in the cartridge for the purpose of releasing the pyrophoricmaterial. This is true where the mechanism must operate from theoutside, even though only small amounts of the material are to bedelivered. An operating member must be provided which passes through thecartridge wall, there being a sealing joint between the member and thesurrounding part of the wall. It is difficult to produce absolutelyreliable sealing member in mass production. The difficulty is that thesejoints are quickly attacked by the usual pyrophoric materials, so thatthe sealing after some time is poor, which can lead to leakage and lossof the pyrophoric substance.

The purpose of the igniter cartridge of the invention is to avoid thepreceding drawbacks and difficulties.

An object of the invention is a cartridge for an igniter, including anouter case containing a pyrophoric material, a discharge orifice in saidcase through which the pyro- Patented Oct. 20, 1970 phoric material isreleased, an obturator in said case for opening and closing saiddischarge orifice, an inertial member located within said case andmovable therein and mechanically independent of the exterior thereof formoving said obturator with respect to said case to momentarily open saiddischarge orifice.

This object and others of the invention will be apparent from theensuing detailed description.

The invention will be described with reference to the figures of theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal cross-section of a first embodiment ofa cartridge and mechanism for releasing and ejecting a predeterminedamount of the pyrophoric material.

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal cross-section of a second embodiment ofa cartridge and mechanism for releasing and ejecting a predeterminedquantity of material.

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal cross-section of a third embodiment ofa cartridge and mechanism for releasing and ejecting a predeterminedamount of material.

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal cross-section of a fourth embodiment ofa cartridge and mechanism for releasing and ejecting a predeterminedamount of material.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are longitudinal views in cross-section of respectiveembodiments of the cartridge of the invention.

With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the igniter comprisesan outer case 1 for the cartridge mounted in a tubular holder 2 in whichit is free to move a little. A Washer 3 of resilient material,positioned between the upper end of the cartridge and a screwed down cap4, presses the lower end of the cartridge against a supporting shoulder2a incorporated in the holder 2.

The case 1 contains a charge of a pyrophoric material held in the glasswool 5 enclosed in a perforated drum 6. The upper end of the caseembodies a discharge orifice in the bottom of a tubular member 7, theorifice being closed by the head 10 of a closure member or obturator 8biased by a compression spring 9.

Within the case, between the discharge orifice and the drum 6, there islocated an inertial member 11 acted upon by a compression spring 12, themovement of the member being guided by a stem 13 unitary with it andprojecting into a tubular part 14 of the drum 6.

A hand-operated actuating button 15 is slidingly mounted in the lowerpart of the holder 2 to move against a return spring 16. The upper rim17 of the button is bent inwards to retain the lower end of'a member 18acting as a hammer which is held spaced from the lower end of the buttonby a compression spring 19.

Normally, the hammer-member 18 is held in the position shown by a springclaw 20. But when the button 15 is depressed against the force of thesprings 16 and 19, the button rim 17 bears against the inclined surface21 of the claw 20 and forces it outwards so as to free the hammer-member18, which is then propelled upwards by the spring 19 and caused tostrike the lower end of the cartridge 1. The movement of the latteragainst the resilient washer 3 (the resilience afterwards returning thecartridge case 1 to its original position) occasions a suddendisplacement of the interial member 11, which latter hits the obturator8 and thus opens the discharge orifice. Thus the inertial member or mass11 is moved while being free of any mechanical connection with theoutside of the cartridge.

When the button 15 is released, the spring 16 simultaneously returns itand the hammer-member 18 to their 3 starting positions, the member 18once again being locked by the claw 20.

The ejection of the desired amount of the pyrophoric material throughthe discharge orifice is facilitated by a saucer-shaped washer 22,carried by the upper face of the inertial member 11 and acting as aone-way valve. When the member 11 moves upwards, this washer forms aseal with the interior wall of the cartridge case 1, so as to compresthe pyrophoric material held between this washer and the dischargeorifice. The washer 22 is sufficiently flexible so that pyrophoricmaterial from the drum 6 is free to enter the space comprised betweenthis washer and the discharge orifice, while the inertial member returnsto its starting position. Thus, the washer 22 functions in the manner ofthe piston of an air-compressor pump, and contributes to the ejection ofthe pyrophoric material through the discharge orifice when the latter isopen.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is similar to that of FIG. 1, except thathere the energy stored in the spring 19 by pressing in the actuatingbutton acts directly on the base of the cartridge case 1, which latterrises until the inwardly bent rim 23 of a sleeve 24 strikes a shoulder25 in the holder 2. The inertial member 11, in the shape of a piston,consequently moves upwards to hit the stem of the obturator 8, aspreviously described. Here again the member 11 is displaced without helpof a materially connection through the casing of the cartridge. Thus,the member 11 is mechanically independent from the exterior of thecartridge. This embodiment also differs from the first in that themember 11 is guided in its longitudinal movement by a finger 26 fixed tothe drum 6 and projecting with clearance into a blind hole embodied inthe member 11. A seal 27 is fixed to the upper end of the holder 2. Theseal is sufficiently flexible so that the cartridge case 1 is free tomove upwards as required.

The third embodiment, shown in FIG. 3 differs from the first two in thatthe intertial member 11, which acts as a piston, itself carries aneedle-shaped obturator 30 which closes the discharge orificeincorporated in a diaphragm 30a. To open the orifice, the inertialmember and the obturator must move downwards. To this end, the cartridgecase 1 is mounted in a bushing 31 that slides in the holder 2.Depressing the button 15 moves the bushing downwards, the energy thusstored in the spring 19 being liberated when the base of the bushingcontacts the inclined surface 21 of the claw 20, which later,spring-biased clockwise, is forced to pivot counterclockwise, freeingthe cartridge case 1, which moves downwardly until its lower rim 32strikes a shoulder 33 of the holder 2. At this instant the member 11moves downwards, withdrawing the obturator 30 from the discharge orificeand momentarily opening the latter. The member 11 is acted upon by areturn compression spring 34, which propels the former away from thedrum 6 and pushes the obturator back into the orifice, which is againsealingly shut. The to and fro movement of the member is again producedwithout mechanical connecting element between the outside and inside ofthe cartridge.

In this embodiment the inertial member 11 again has a one-way valve 22contacting the interior wall of the cartridge case. When the inertialmember moves downwards the pyrophoric material held in the lower part ofthe cartridge case 1 escapes into the upper part thereof by passingaround the valve. But when the inertial member rises, the one-way valveprevents the pyrophoric material from returning to the lower part of thecartridge case, and instead ejects it through the discharge orificebefore it is closed by the obturator 30.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the general arrangement of thecartridge is similar to that of the preceding forms, but the manner ofmoving the inertial member 11 is different. The cartridge case 1 doesnot move. Instead, partly surrounding it is a magnetic coupler 36movable, by means of a hand-operated actuator 39, along two shafts 37against the action of springs 38. Both the inertial member 11 and thecoupler 36 are of a magnetic material, such as a ferromagnetic material,one or both being a permanent magnet. The cartridge case 1 is made of anon-magnetic substance, such as aluminium.

In operation, depressing the magnetic coupler 36 causes the inertialmember 11 to move downwards against the bias of a return spring 40,until the force of the latter exceeds the magnetic force between themember 11 and the coupler. Consequently, the inertial member ispropelled upwards by the spring 40, at the end of its movement strikingthe obturator 8 and raising the latters head 10 to open the dischargeorifice. When the actuator 39 is released, the coupler 36 returns to itsstarting position, whereupon the igniter can be operated again. In thisembodiment the connection between the inside and outside of thecartridge is immaterial since it is produced by a magnetic field.

In FIG. 6 is shown a variation of a cartridge similar to that mounted inthe device illustrated in FIG. 2. The drum 6, holding fibre soaked witha pyrophoric material, is held in a stamped sheet iron cartridge case45, with a seal 46 between the drum and the cartridge case. The inertialmember 11 is guided in the cartridge case in which it is free to moveagainst a compression spring 47. The inertial member carries a stem 48,of which the head 49 forms a conical extension that engages in adischarge orifice 50 embodied in the case 45.

The cartridge of this embodiment can be used together with an operatingmechanism of the kind shown in FIG. 2. When the upper end of thecartridge case comes to abutment, the member 11 and the stem 48 continueto rise, causing the discharge orifice 50 momentarily to open.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a cartridge intended to be used inconjunction with the device shown in FIG. 3. The stamped sheet ironcartridge case 45 incorporates a discharge orifice closed by aneedle-shaped obturator 51 fixed to the upper end of a round-bottomedcontainer 52, which holds the pyrophoric material in a fibrous wad andis free to move against the action of a compression spring 53. The lowerend of the container 52 narrows to a downwardly extending projection 54,which engages, and holds the container in a central opening of adiaphragm 55 that thus acts as a guiding member for the container 52.The latter thereby serves as the inertial body 11 of the precedingforms, enabling a reduction in the weight and in the size since the massof the pyrophoric material stored contributes to the kinetic energy thatcauses the obturator 51 to open the orifice.

In all of the embodiments of the invention described, a small amount ofpyrophoric material is discharged by movement of the respectiveobturator 8, 30, 49 or 51, which is released by means of exterior of thecartridge and requires no opening in the cartridge other than thedischarge orifice.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described,the scope of, and the breadth of protection afforded to, the inventionare limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge for an igniter, the cartridge having an outer casecontaining a pyrophoric material, a discharge orifice in said casethrough which the pyrophoric material is released and obturating meansin said case for opening and closing said discharge orifice, and whereinthe improvement includes an inertial means located entirely within saidcase and movable therein and mechanically independent of the exteriorthereof, actuating means accessible at said exterior of the case andmovable relative to the latter, and spring means loaded in response toinitial movement of said actuating means to store energy which, uponfurther movement of said actuating means, S released to said inertialmeans for moving said obturating means with respect to said case tomomentarily open said discharge orifice.

2. The cartridge as defined in claim 1, including means for guiding themovement of said inertial means.

3. The cartridge as defined in claim 1, including a quantity of fibrousmaterial in which the pyrophoric material is held, said fibrous materialbeing positioned within said case and spaced from said dischargeorifice, and wherein said inertial means is located between said fibrousmaterial and obturating means.

4. The cartridge as defined in claim 3, wherein said inertial meansconstitutes a piston for moving the pyrophoric material towards saiddischarge orifice.

5. The cartridge as defined in claim 1, including means for guiding themovement of said inertial means, a quantity of fibrous material in whichthe pyrophoric material is held, said fibrous material being positionedwithin said case and spaced from discharge orifice, and wherein saidinertial means is located beween said fibrous material and obturatingmeans and constitutes a piston for moveing the pyrophoric materialtowards said discharge orifice.

6. The cartridge as defined in claim 5, wherein said inertial means ismovable from a rest position towards said discharge orifice and back tothe rest position and including a one-way valve means carried by saidinertial means and moving therewith and contacting the interior wallsurface of said case so as to form in the latter a chamber between saiddischarge orifice and one-way valve means, whereby said one-way valvemeans drives the pyrophoric material towards said discharge orifice whensaid inertial means moves towards the latter and allows the pyrophoricmaterial free passage when said inertial means returns to its restposition.

7. The cartridge as defined in claim 6, wherein the cartridge is roundin cross-section, and said one-way valve means has a circular peripherythat contacts the interior wall surface of said case and forms a sealtherewith when said inertial means moves towards said discharge orificeso as to prevent the pyrophoric material from escaping from said chamberexcept through said discharge orifice when the latter is open but saidone-way valve means allows the pyrophoric material to enter said chamberwhen said inertial means returns to its rest position.

8. The cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein said obturating means iscarried by said inertial means and moves therewith, and includingresilient means acting on said inertial means so as to cause saidobturating means to close said discharge orifice.

9. The cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein said obturating meansincludes a stem that is moved when said inertial means is moved, wherebysaid discharge orifice is opened and closed.

10. The cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein said inertial means isof a ferromagnetic material for movement by a magnetic field, and saidcase is non-magnetic.

11. The cartridge as defined in claim 10, in which said actuating meansincludes a member of magnetic material movably mounted at the exteriorof said case, at least one of said inertial means and said member of theactuating means being a permanent magnet, whereby movement of saidactuating means causes movement of said inertial means in a direction toload said spring means until the loading of said spring means overcomesthe magnetic coupling therebtween and the energy stored by said springmeans is released to said inertial means.

12. The cartridge as defined in claim 1, including a perforatedcontainer for the pyrophoric material, said container constituting saidinertial means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,419,769 4/1947 Frank 222-5002,760,364 8/1956 DAlton et a]. 431-267 3,184,119 5/1965 Hull 222-500EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 222-500

